Sultan for taking up Kashmir dispute at all world fora   
'Pakistan Times' Kashmir Desk

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry Wednesday said the Kashmir issue would aggressively be taken up at all the international fora since it had entered a decisive phase.

“I represent 15 million Kashmiris and would take up the longstanding issue at various world fora to muster support of the world community,” he told newspersons at his residence before leaving for London a 10-day visit of Britain, Belgium, France, Norway and Sweden.

He said there is a deadlock on dialogue process between Pakistan and India for resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir.

“The history is witness to this fact that all the disputes including Ran of Kach and Indus Basin Treaty among two neighbours were settled through third party intervention.”

He expressed a need for third party mediation for settlement of Kashmir issue.
In this regard, Canada, Britain, Norway and European Union (EU) can play a key role and help mediate the Kashmir issue.

Reiterating his demand to include Kashmiris in the dialogue process, he said the Kashmiri people are main party to the issue.

A lasting and durable settlement of the Kashmir issue is possible if the Kashmiris are included in the talks, he added.

He said the representatives of Kashmiri people should be included in the talks for the success of dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Sultan Mehmood, also president of AJK Peoples Muslim League, said that intra-Kashmiri dialogue should be held to provide leadership of the both sides of Kashmir to sit together and devise a strategy for early solution of the issue.

About Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), he said India should immediately withdraw its forces from occupied Kashmir and repeal draconian laws being implemented in the held valley.

He said during the visit to Britain, the issue of Indian bid for permanent membership of UN Security Council would be taken up with British government’s officials.

“At the one hand India is trying to become member of UNSC and on the other, its leadership is not ready to implement UN resolution on Kashmir,” he added.
He said, “I would expose Indian double standards before the world community.”

Sultan Mehmood said that about one million Kashmiris live in Britain and they support Labour Party during the elections.

“I would ask the Kashmiris to pressurize the ruling Labour party to withdraw its support for India to become member of UNSC.”

About new government in Pakistan, he said, Kashmiris have pinned great hopes with the new democratic government because it has a courage to make sincere efforts for resolution of longstanding issue.●